Nashville, TN, in many ways needs no introduction. It’s a well-known hub of country music and
place that has long influenced not only the music but the culture of the United States
as well. But there’s a lot more to Nashville than just “Music Row.” It’s a beacon of nightlife and
live entertainment, a home to a thriving art scene, and world-class food scene as well.
So join Viewcation as we cover the best things to do in Nashville, TN!
Robert’s Western World Lower Broadway is a famous area
of Nashville that is filled with a ton of honky tonk bars. And while some of these have taken
advantage of the tourist scene by expanding into a more rock and roll vibe, perfect for
bachelorette parties and frat kids, Robert’s has managed to preserve its old school roots. While we
do recommend bar hopping if you’re headed down lower Broadway, we highly recommended spending
some extra time here. Robert’s Western World still hires top notch musicians to play Western swing,
and its laid back atmosphere is perfect for soaking the tunes in. You can sate your
thirst with a cold beer, eat a fried bologna sandwich, and just enjoy the festivities.
Ryman Auditorium
If you’ve ever heard of the Grand Ole Opry, then you might have also heard of the Ryman Auditorium.
That’s because the Ryman played host to the Opry from 1943 to 1974. In fact, this 2300-seat venue
is steeped in Nashville history, culture, and music. The acoustic in Ryman are world class,
despite it being built in 1892. They certainly did something right in the construction!
Inside, there are cool tributes to legends like Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff. And further
in are their exhibits all about Johnny and June (aka Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash)
as well as ones on the Opry’s early years. If you choose to take a guided tour, they’ll even bring
you into the dressing rooms and backstage. And there’s even a working recording studio inside,
where you can record songs to take home with you. Of course, since Ryman is a working venue, there
are incredible acts there all year round. So we’d recommend planning your trip around a great show!
General Jackson Showboat Cruising around the Cumberland
River on the General Jackson Showboat is a great way to get acclimated with the layout of the city.
It's also a great way to relax and enjoy a trip on the water. This large paddlewheel boat has
four separate decks from which you can look out into the gorgeous Tennessee landscape, and take
in Nashville without the hustle and bustle of the city. The boat holds 1000 passengers comfortably,
and you can choose either an afternoon cruise or an evening cruise. The afternoon one is 2.5
hours long and comes with lunch, while the dinner cruise is 3 hours. While on board,
you'll also be able to watch performers play music as your cruise. The afternoon cruise is
themed around Tennessee legends. The evening one is focused on the music of New Orleans,
early country music from Nashville, and Memphis blues.
Before we tell you more about the best things to do in Nashville, be sure to
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Frist Art Museum While Nashville is known far more for
music than for fine art, the Frist Art Museum has sought to buck that trend. It was started in 2001,
in a building that used to house the primary post office of Nashville.
One cool thing about this museum is that there aren’t any permanent exhibits. Instead,
it’s a constant rotation of exhibitions. This could range from Japanese art to old-timey cars,
and everything in between. The steady rotation is one of the reasons locals love the First
Museum – the element of change and of surprise. In addition to great galleries full of cool art,
the museum also hosts a free concert, known as Music at the Frist, once every month.
The Station Inn While this might sound like
it’s a hipster hotel, it’s actually the premiere bluegrass venue in Nashville. And while bluegrass
might often be thought of as country music’s kid cousin, it’s a thriving genre in certain
areas of the country, and in certain circles. The Station Inn has an intensely homey feel to
it – you’ll think you stepped into someone’s basement to watch their friends play music.
But instead, it’s a bar hosting some of the most talented bluegrass musicians in the country.
There’s music going on every night, so you can pop in any time and hear a quality jam.
If you’re there on a Sunday night, you’ll get a chance to watch the “Sunday Bluegrass Jam”
which often gets local legends and touring bluegrass favorites all playing together.
Lane Motor Museum This private museum’s mission is to
show off vehicles from four different continents (Europe, Asia, North America, and South America)
from the roaring ‘20s to today. What’s more, all of the vehicles are still in proper working order.
The Lane Motor Museum boasts a collection of over 150 cars, motorcycles, and amphibious vehicles on
a rotating schedule. So, much like the Frist Art Museum, it provides somewhat of a new
experience every time you go. And that translates to popularity with locals and tourists alike. Each
vehicle has info cards next to it, telling about the history of the vehicle, and its particular
significance. You can also take a look into the repair garages, where mechanics and curators
work to get new cars to the collection up and running again before they are added to the museum.
Willie Nelson and Friends Museum Are you a fan of country legend
Willie Nelson? Then this is the spot for you. The Willie Nelson and Friends Museum is dedicated to
all things Willie, and it packs a small space with a ton of cool stuff. Prime among them are Nelson's
very first Martin guitar, as well as his CMA award for Entertainer of the year in 1979. But that's
the tip of the iceberg, as the museum boasts memorabilia and musical artifacts from some of
Willie's best friends in the country music world. When you head to the middle of the museum, you’ll
find assorted things from Nelson’s Texas recording studio, including chairs and microphones. They
even have Willie’s old pool table there! We recommend taking the self-guided tour. It’ll walk
you around to see cool displays of Kenny Rogers’ concert clothing, some of Patsy Cline’s diaries,
and more. There are also cases that honor country legends like Porter Wagoner, Glenn Campbell and
more. And before you head out, be sure to grab a souvenir from the general store up front!
Hatch Show Print If you’ve ever seen any of the insanely
cool posters for the shows at Nashville’s biggest venues, then you’ve seen what Hatch Show Print can
do. They’ve been making show posters for 140 years now, so they’ve printed out cool designs for the
biggest names in music across a few generations. It’s still a functioning poster print shop,
and they make more than 500 new ones each year. When you visit, you can purchase copies of some
of the class ones, such as William Hatch’s poster for the Grand Ole Opry that he created in 1941.
Hatch Show Print is also a museum though, so you’ll get a chance to look at preserved
copies of old posters all over the building, and they rotate throughout the year. And if
you’re a true fan of poster making, you can sign up for workshops and tours.
The Loveless Café Of course, checking out
all the activities and places we’ve listed already will likely leave you hungry. And one of our top
picks when it’s show time is The Loveless Café. Technically this one is 20 minutes outside town,
but trust us, it's worth it. If you're hankering for an incredible lunch with a home-cooked feel,
you can't go wrong at this Nashville staple. The hot biscuits are the first absolute must-order.
Not only are they a southern classic item, but Loveless makes some of the best around.
They also have a killer “Southern Sampler Platter.” It comes with fried chicken,
country ham, catfish, and meatloaf. So be sure to bring your appetite!
Nashville Hot Air Balloon When you think of Nashville,
you might think of country music or southern cooking, but you probably don’t think of a hot air
balloon ride. And that’s exactly why you should try one, courtesy of Nashville Hot Air Balloon.
Up to six people can fit in each balloon, and you’ll get the chance to float about
the Nashville area for around an hour. The balloons go around 500 to 2000 feet in the air
and move at a leisurely five to ten miles per house. It’s a really cool and relaxing way to
see the gorgeous Tennessee wilderness and the city of Nashville from above.
As you can see, Nashville is more than country music. We recommend spending at least several
days there, because, to be honest, this list only scratches the surface of all the incredible
things to do, eat, and see in Nashville! Now it’s time to hear from you. Did we miss any of your
favorite things to do in Nashville? Let us know in the comments section below. And before you go,
make sure to give this video a like, and subscribe to Viewcation if you
haven’t already. Click the bell icon to stay updated on all our latest content.